VIDEO: How Boks are 'building depth'
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber is adamant they have been ‘building dept’ in the Springbok squad since 2018, despite suggestions that they were “conservative” in their selection for the year-end tour.
The injury-hit World Cup champions’ coach, Nienaber, named just two uncapped players – lock Salmaan Moerat and scrumhalf Grant Williams – in the 32-man squad for South Africa’s November’s tour.
The Boks face Wales in Cardiff on November 6, Scotland in Edinburgh seven days later and England in London on November 20.
South Africa defeated Wales in the semifinals and England in the Final when they won the World Cup for a record-equalling third time in Japan two years ago.
Nienaber confirmed on Tuesday that World Cup stars Cheslin Kolbe, Francois de Klerk, Frans Malherbe, Rudolph Snyman and Pieter-Steph du Toit will miss the tour through injuries.
However, Nienaber still only named two uncapped players – Moerat filling the void left by the absence of Snyman and Williams named as the third scrumhalf on the tour party.
He suggested they have a long-term plan that has been in place from the outset.
Nienaber explained that Rassie Erasmus started the ‘building’ process in 2018, at the start of his six-year contract as Director of Rugby – which included a two-year stint doubling up as head coach.
“We are constantly building this squad,” he told @rugby365com.
Nienaber added that there are young players coming in at almost every position.
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“You would see Ox [Retshegofaditswe] Nché at prop, at hooker there is Joseph Dweba as a young player, in the second row Salmaan Moerat is a younger player coming in, the back row has Jasper Wiese as a young player coming in,” the coach said.
“We are continuously breeding [blooding] younger players.”
He admitted that flyhalf is the one position they may not have brought in enough young blood.
“In the back three, we have Aphelele Fassi as a younger player in the mix.
“If you look at our squad, you will see we have an eye on consistency in selection.
“We have consistency in terms of experience in the squad.
“That [experience] is something we will need going into the Worlds Cup in 2023.
“We are fortunate to have a young squad, with an average age of 28.
“Although we have a very experienced squad, they are fairly young.”
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